Food & Drink

Dreaming of a gluten-free Christmas?

18-Sep-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Christmas represents a prime opportunity to capitalise on the exploding market for gluten-free food. Daniel Woolfson looks at the benefits of catering to specialist diets during the festive season

Brew history

Brew history: The journey of Imperial Extra Double Stout

18-Sep-2015 By Martyn Cornell

It has been a long journey for the latest Champion Bottle-Conditioned Beer. Martyn Cornell tracks the path this stout has taken from Southwark to Sussex via St Petersburg, a voyage that lasted more than 200 years

Beer and Food

Bath Ales launches craft beer & pizza concept in Oxford

18-Sep-2015 By James Evison

Brewer and operator Bath Ales is refurbishing its Grapes pub in Oxford into a craft beer and pizza venue called Beerd.

Adult soft drinks

New range of adult soft drinks launched

18-Sep-2015 By Michelle Perrett

The Cracker Drinks Co has launched a new premium range of adult soft drinks called the ‘Blended’ range.

Beer

Shepherd Neame launches Late Red Autumn Splendour Ale

18-Sep-2015 By Michelle Perrett

Kent brewer Shepherd Neame has launched its special edition Late Red Autumn Splendour Ale (4.5% ABV).

Beer

Wild Beer Co open first bar and restaurant

18-Sep-2015 By James Evison

A Grade II listed Georgian property, which housed the former Bistrot Coco restaurant and its adjoining bar Coco Beach, has been taken over by Wild Beer Co.

Food and Health

Smaller portion sizes and “life-saving” ban on trans fats encouraged

18-Sep-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Food businesses have been urged to consider serving smaller portions to combat growing obesity levels in the UK.

Wine

79% of wine drinkers don't have any brand loyalty

17-Sep-2015 By Michelle Perrett

Four-fifths of wine drinkers (79%) admitted to changing brands or having no brand loyalty, the latest market report from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has revealed.

BrewDog goes to Brussels

17-Sep-2015 By James Evison

BrewDog Brussels to be 33rd BrewDog bar opening.

Wine

Recommended career path for sommeliers outlined

17-Sep-2015 By Michelle Perrett

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe (CMS) have joined forces to publish a recommended career path for aspiring sommeliers in the UK.

Christmas Advice

How to create the perfect festive bar

17-Sep-2015 By Laurie Macdonald

Christmas may seem to be in the distance, but planning is everything when approaching this critical time of year. Laurie MacDonald learns how to create the perfect festive bar.

Is atmosphere in a pub more important than beer or food?

17-Sep-2015 By Pete Brown

Creating the right atmosphere in a pub is rated as more important than the beer, the food or the prices, according to Pete Brown. Here he looks at the difficulty in finding that balance.

Beer Group MP: 'We won over beer, many would say we lost over pubs'

16-Sep-2015 By Andrew Griffiths MP

Just like the Forth Road Bridge, where famously workmen on completing a new coat of paint have to start all over again at the other end, so the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group begins again at the start of the new Parliament.

Top tips for serving Rugby World Cup food

16-Sep-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Food-serving pubs will make a bigger play of Rugby World Cup-themed dishes this year, after Deloittes reported the event would bring £2.1bn to the British economy, the majority of which would be spent in the hospitality sector.

Analysis

SAB Miller - the firm that AB InBev wants to buy

16-Sep-2015 By James Evison

AB InBev wants to purchase SAB Miller - according to reports. PMA looks at the recent history of the brewing giant.

There's A Beer For That

Beer festival kits in 500 pubs ready for Rugby World Cup

16-Sep-2015 By Oli Gross

Kits enabling licensees to set up beer and food matching events and festivals have been sold to 500 pubs in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup.

Industry blasted for lack of ethics in dealings with craft brewers

16-Sep-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Leading craft beer brewers have spoken of their frustration with pubs and bar chains who consistently fail to pay for beer on time.

Molson Coors

Iconic Burton beer gets new brewer - and saves historic town brewery

16-Sep-2015 By James Evison

Burton-based brewer Worthington to have two brands taken on by new company - following Molson Coors deal.

SRA: food operators unengaged with sustainability could put businesses at risk

16-Sep-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Food operators who don’t engage with sustainability issues could be putting their businesses at risk as new research suggests diners have become increasingly likely to pick eating out locations based on their sustainability credentials.

Whisky

Glasgow bartender crowned 'Malt Mastermind'

15-Sep-2015 By James Evison

Glasgow bartender wins competition for cocktail and knowledge of category.

Cider

Bottled cider trends report: the joy of six

14-Sep-2015 By Laurie Macdonald

The cider revival of the past few years has rivalled the craft movement in beer in its meteoric rise, with the category worth an estimated £2.7bn.

Scotch

Old Pulteney adds second peaty whisky to range

14-Sep-2015 By James Evison

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky has added its second peated whisky - the Old Pulteney 1989.

Five bartenders compete for cocktail crown

14-Sep-2015 By James Evison

Funkin has selected five bartenders to compete for the 'Innovation Champion' title, where the winner will have the opportunity to work with the firm on a paid, part-time freelance basis for one year.

Hogs Back Brewery appoints new sales director

14-Sep-2015 By James Evison

Gordon Thompson has joined Surrey-based Hogs Back Brewery as its sales director.

Wadworth appoint new chief executive

14-Sep-2015 By James Evison

Former managing director of Spirit Leased, Chris Welham, is to become the new chief executive of Wadworth & Co.

Pub Awards

Great British Pub Awards: #LetsCocktail !

10-Sep-2015 By PMA

Our Best Spirits Bar/Pub Partner, Diageo, have worked with this year’s finalists to create 6 signature cocktails available on your table at the event.

Beer

New breweries increase by 17%

10-Sep-2015 By Mike Berry

Third consecutive year of double-digit growth reported by CAMRA.

BrewDog ditches craft beer Lagunitas after Heineken buy-out

09-Sep-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Brewdog co-founder James Watt has announced his business will no longer stock US craft brewer Lagunitas’ products after it was acquired by Heineken.

News of the brews

07-Sep-2015 By Jessica Mason

News of the brews is your definitive guide to the week in beer, bringing you the latest in all things hoppy.

Seasonal soft drinks report - premium palette?

07-Sep-2015 By Jessica Mason

Jessica Mason investigates the changes occurring in the soft drinks category and notes the shifts that will inform your next soft drinks listing.

Bitter blow for Scottish minimum unit pricing plans

03-Sep-2015 By Minimum pricing

The Scottish Government’s plans to introduce minimum pricing have suffered a bitter blow after the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice said the move infringed EU rules on free trade.

People News

Charles Wells appoints new chief executive

03-Sep-2015 By Mike Berry

Charles Wells, the Bedford-based brewer and pub operator, has announced a restructure of its board with Justin Phillimore becoming chief executive.

Report debunks £20bn 'cost of alcohol' figure

03-Sep-2015 By Mike Berry

Drinkers are subsidising non-drinkers to the tune of £6.5bn a year, a new report suggests.

August soft drinks round-up

August soft drink round-up

03-Sep-2015 By Laurie Macdonald

The essential round-up of soft drinks launches and news from August.

Craft Beer

Beginner's guide to stocking US craft beer at your pub

02-Sep-2015 By Sylvia Kopp

Craft beer is the hottest trend in the beer world but the plethora of styles and brands available can be overwhelming. Sylvia Kopp, craft beer ambassador at the US Brewers Association, looks at how best to choose which brands to stock.

Beer

Death of the pint? Not at all...

02-Sep-2015 By Pete Brown

Pete Brown relies on the world of statistics to compile the Cask Report - but when facts are used incorrectly, he refuses to tolerate it.

Menu trends

Number of new vegetarian menu items rises whilst number of beef dishes drop

02-Sep-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Vegetarian dishes now account for 31% of new menu items across the eating-out sector, up from 18% last year, according to M&C Allegra Foodservice’s New Menu Item Analysis report.

Back bar bulletin

01-Sep-2015 By Laurie Macdonald

Your essential round-up of what's happened on the back bar.

Pubs and roasts in top 10 things Brits miss when abroad

01-Sep-2015 By James Evison

Research by Mitchells and Butlers brand Toby Carvery has shown Brits miss the pub and a Sunday roast when on holiday.

Beer

'Exclusive' pale ale for artist Banksy's Dismaland exhibition

01-Sep-2015 By James Evison

Brands Reunited, the umbrella operation of the recently re-launched 'Home Ales' brand from Nottingham, has secured its debut brew Robin Hood Pale Ale as an exclusive cask pale ale at Banksy's latest exhibition in Weston-super-Mare, titled...

News of the brews

28-Aug-2015 By Laurie Macdonald

News of the brews is your definitive guide to the week in beer, bringing you the latest in all things hoppy.

Number of applications for new distilleries soars

27-Aug-2015 By Laurie Macdonald

The number of applications for new distilleries in the UK has more than trebled in the last year, as new producers seek to cash in on the growing trend for locally produced small batch spirits.

BrewDog

In pictures: BrewDog's dead donkey stunt

27-Aug-2015 By Emily Sutherland

BrewDog has aimed to cement its reputation as a ‘maverick’ brewer by inviting guests attending the launch of its much-anticipated Brighton bar to arrive on a dead donkey.

American whiskey sales up with "favourable trends"

27-Aug-2015 By Laurie Macdonald

Brown-Forman has reported strong growth in its key Jack Daniel’s brands as well as its super-premium Woodford Reserve Bourbon.

"Disappointing" beer sales down again

27-Aug-2015 By Laurie Macdonald

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has released figures in its Beer Barometer for the second quarter of 2015 showing total sales down 5.6% from 2014.

Beer

Only 12% of UK men opt for a pint in a pub

27-Aug-2015 By Emily Sutherland

A poll has found that only 12% of British men over 30 name beer or lager as their drink of choice in a pub, with one in five citing calories as the reason for their choice.